Complaint Review: The Global Directory Of Who's Who

My complaint is similar to a prior post on the Rip Off Report.

When signing up for the Global Directory of Who's Who, I expressly told the sales representative, Diane Webster, that I would access all member data online and that I DID NOT want to pay $199 plus shipping & handling for their hard-bound book.

Upon finding the charge of $228.99 to my credit card, I contacted the Global Directory of Who's Who and asked that they refund the $228.99 because I did not want the book. Things got a bit heated between the Executive Director, Connor Walsh, and myself. When the topic of disputing the charges on my credit card came up he stated that he (as a vendor) has rights also and that it would do me no good to go that route. The conversation ended with him saying, "I will see what I can do..."

After not hearing back from him for a couple of weeks (and no credit to my account, either), I wrote a letter terminating my membership, returning my membership plaque for disposal, telling them not to send me the book, and requesting the refund to my credit card. By copy of the letter I also filed a complaint with (1) the Better Business Bureau of New York and (2) with my credit card company.

The Better Business Bureau of New York came to the agreement with the Global Directory of Who's Who to refund the $228.99 by 1/30/08. It is now 2/11/08 and the refund has not been posted to my credit card yet.

This company was also *very* aggressive and persistent in their sales campaign. That alone should have been a red flag. For those looking to network in real-time, I suggest using online networks like XXXXXXXXX or XXXX who focus on their online services.

David
Atlanta, Georgia
U.S.A.

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.